Thermoelectric device, especially intended to generate an electrical current in an automotive vehicle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a thermoelectric device, comprising a first circuit ( 1 ), called hot circuit, through which a first fluid can flow, and, a second circuit ( 2 ), called cold circuit, through which a second fluid can flow at a temperature lower than that of the first fluid, and elements ( 3, 3   p,    3   n ), called thermoelectric elements, that can be used to generate an electric current in the presence of a temperature gradient. According to the invention, it comprises fins ( 6   f,    6   c ) in a heat exchange relationship with said hot circuit ( 1 ) and/or said cold circuit ( 2 ), the thermoelectric elements ( 3, 3   p,    3   n ) being in contact at least with said fins ( 6   f,    6   c ), at least some of said fins ( 6   f,    6   c ) being associated in pairs, a compressible material ( 11 ) being provided between the fins ( 6   f,    6   c ) of one and the same pair.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Stage of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2011/063033, filed on Jul. 28, 2011, which claims priority to and all the advantages of French Patent Application No. FR 10/57878, filed on Sep. 29, 2010, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a thermoelectric device, in particular intended to generate an electrical current in a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Thermoelectric devices have already been proposed that use elements, called thermoelectric elements, that make it possible to generate an electric current in the presence of a temperature gradient between two of their opposing faces by the phenomenon known as Seebeck effect. These devices comprise a stack of first pipes, intended for the circulation of the exhaust gases from an engine, and second pipes, intended for the circulation of a heat-transfer fluid of a cooling circuit. The thermoelectric elements are sandwiched between the pipes so as to be subjected to a temperature gradient originating from the temperature difference between the hot exhaust gases and the cold coolant.

Such devices are of particular interest because they make it possible to produce electricity from a conversion of the heat originating from the engine exhaust gases. They thus offer the possibility of reducing the fuel consumption of the vehicle by replacing, at least partially, the alternator usually provided therein to generate electricity from a belt driven by the crankshaft of the engine.

One drawback of the known devices is that they require a very good contact to be assured between the thermoelectric elements and the pipes. It is thus necessary to have pipes that have a flatness and a surface finish that have an impact on the cost price of the device.

A first solution, consisting in reinforcing the contact by virtue of tie rods exerting a force on the stack of pipes, has been tested. This solution does, however, require the use of pipes that do risk being crushed on themselves under the effect of this force, resulting in an overconsumption of material.

The known thermoelectric elements are also fragile, in particular to the shear forces, and the thermal expansion of the pipes can damage them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to improve the situation by proposing a thermoelectric device, comprising a first circuit, called hot circuit, through which a first fluid can flow, and a second circuit, called cold circuit, through which a second fluid can flow at a temperature lower than that of the first fluid, and elements, called thermoelectric elements, that can be used to generate an electric current in the presence of a temperature gradient.

According to the invention, it comprises fins in a heat exchange relationship with said hot circuit and/or said cold circuit, said thermoelectric elements being in contact at least with said fins.

By associating the thermoelectric elements with fins, the intimacy of the contact between them and the components, hot and/or cold, of the device, with which they have to be in contact in order to be subjected to a temperature gradient, is facilitated. In practice, the need to establish a close link between the thermoelectric elements and the component(s) creating the temperature gradient necessary to their operation is no longer borne by the fluid circulation pipes but by a specific component, the fins, which can therefore be chosen for that, at least for one of said hot or cold circuits. The technical solutions used to establish an effective heat bridge between, on the one hand, the fins and the pipes and, on the other hand, the fins and the thermoelectric elements, will therefore be able to be optimized separately.

At least some of said fins are associated in pairs and a compressible material is provided between the fins of one and the same pair. By providing a compressible material between the fins, a solution is obtained that makes it possible to absorb, in said compressible material, the mechanical stress generated by the heat expansion of the pipes. This prevents it from being propagated to the thermoelectric elements.

Said compressible material will be able to be electrically insulating.

The thermoelectric elements will be able, for a first part, to be of a first type, called P, that makes it possible to establish an electrical potential difference in one direction, called positive, when they are subjected to a given temperature gradient, and, for the other part, to be of a second type, called N, that can be used to create an electrical potential difference in an opposite direction, called negative direction, when they are subjected to the same temperature gradient.

According to a first embodiment:

-   -   the hot circuit comprises pipes, called hot pipes, for the         circulation of the hot fluid,     -   said cold circuit comprises pipes, called cold pipes, for the         circulation of the cold fluid,     -   said fins are in a heat exchange relationship with the cold         pipes,     -   the thermoelectric elements are in a heat exchange relationship,         on the one hand, with the hot pipes and, on the other hand, with         the cold fins,     -   said cold fins are grouped in pairs, said compressible material         being provided between the fins of one and the sane pair.

According to a second embodiment:

-   -   said hot circuit comprises pipes, called hot pipes, for the         circulation of the hot fluid,     -   said cold circuit comprises pipes, called cold pipes, for the         circulation of the cold fluid,     -   for a first part, said fins, called cold fins, are in a heat         exchange relationship with said cold pipes,     -   for the other part, said fins, called hot fins, are in a heat         exchange relationship with said hot pipes,     -   said thermoelectric elements are provided in a heat exchange         relationship, on the one hand, with the cold fins and, on the         other hand, with the hot fins.

Said cold pipes and said hot pipes extend, for example, in one and the same direction, called Y, and the hot fins and the cold fins are arranged parallel to one another in planes, orthogonal to the direction Y, the fins extending in a first direction, called Z, and in a second direction, called X.

According to an first exemplary implementation of this second embodiment, only the cold fins are grouped in pairs, called cold pairs, and said compressible material is provided between the fins of one and the same pair for the cold pairs.

According to this first exemplary implementation:

-   -   the cold pairs alternate with the hot fins in the direction Y in         such a way that at least one so-called cold pair is situated on         either side of one so-called hot fin, said hot fin being         provided facing a cold fin, of the cold pair or pairs, called         upstream, situated on one side of said hot fin, said hot fin         also facing a cold fin of the other cold pair or pairs, called         downstream, situated on the other said of said hot fin,     -   there are provided at least two cold pairs in the extension of         one another in the direction X and electrically insulated from         one another,     -   the following configuration is adopted:         -   one or more P-type elements are provided between said hot             fin and the cold fin, situated facing, of a first of the             upstream cold pairs, called first upstream cold pair,         -   one or more N-type elements are provided between said hot             fin and the cold fin, situated facing, of another, called             second upstream cold pair, of the upstream cold pairs,             situated in the extension of said first upstream cold pair,         -   one or more P-type elements are provided between the hot fin             and the cold fin, situated facing, of a first of the             downstream cold pairs, called first downstream cold pair,         -   one or more N-type elements are provided between the hot fin             and the cold fin, situated facing, of another, called second             downstream cold pair, of the downstream cold pairs, situated             in the extension of said first downstream cold pair,         -   the P-type, respectively N-type, thermoelectric elements             facing one another on either side of the hot fin.

More specifically, it will be possible to provide for:

-   -   the cold fin of the second upstream cold pair and the cold fin         of the second downstream cold pair to be at the same potential,         and     -   the cold fin of the first upstream cold pair and the cold fin of         the first downstream cold pair to be at the same potential.

It will also be possible to provide for the fins of the first upstream and downstream cold pairs of one of said hot fins to be set to the same potential as those associated with the following hot fins, in the direction Y. The same applies for the cold fins of the second upstream and downstream pairs.

According to a second exemplary embodiment of the second implementation, the cold fins and the hot fins are grouped in pairs, respectively called cold pair/hot pair, and said compressible material is provided between the fins of one and the same pair for the cold pairs and the hot pairs.

The hot pairs and the cold pairs are, for example, alternated in the direction Y in such a way that at least one said cold pair is situated on either side of one said hot pair, a hot fin of said hot pair being provided facing a cold fin, of the cold pair or pairs, called upstream, situated on one side of said hot pair, the other fin of the same hot pair facing a cold fin of the other pair or pairs, called downstream, of said cold pairs situated on the other side of said hot pair.

It will be possible to provide, in particular, at least two cold pairs in the extension of one another in the direction X and electrically insulated from one another, forming a series of cold fins in the direction X.

The following configuration will, for example, be adopted:

-   -   one or more P-type elements are provided between a first of the         hot fins of a so-called hot pair and the cold fin, situated         facing, of a first of the upstream cold pairs, called first         upstream cold pair,     -   one or more N-type elements are provided between said first of         the hot fins and the cold fin, situated facing, of another,         called second upstream cold pair, of the upstream cold pairs,         situated in the extension of said first upstream cold pair,     -   one or more N-type elements are provided between the other hot         fin of said hot pair and the cold fin, situated facing, of a         first of the downstream cold pairs, called first downstream cold         pair,     -   one or more P-type elements are provided between said other hot         fin of said hot pair and the cold fin, situated facing, of         another, called second downstream cold pair, of the downstream         cold pairs, situated in the extension of said first downstream         cold pair,     -   the P-type thermoelectric elements facing N-type thermoelectric         elements on either side of the hot pair.

More specifically, it will be possible to provide a plurality of hot pairs in the extension of one another in the direction X and electrically insulated from one another, forming a series of hot pairs in the direction X. Said hot pairs will also be able to be distributed in ranks in which they follow one after the other in the direction Y.

The cold pairs will also be able to be distributed in ranks in which they follow one after the other in the direction Y. It will then be possible to arrange hot pairs and cold pairs distributed in staggered configuration.

The hot pipes, respectively the cold pipes, are, for example, grouped in ranks extending in planes orthogonal to the direction X.

The hot pipes will be able to be provided between two ranks, in the direction Y, of cold pairs, and/or the cold pipes will be able to be provided between two ranks, in the direction Y, of hot pairs.

Moreover, still according to this exemplary embodiment:

-   -   the cold fin of the second upstream cold pair and the cold fin         of the second downstream cold pair are set at the same         potential, for the fins of the cold pairs located at a first end         of the series of cold pairs,     -   the cold fin of the first downstream cold pair of one of the hot         pairs is set to the same potential as the cold fin of said first         upstream cold pair of the following hot pair in the direction Y,         said cold fins forming part of the same pair of cold fins, for         the fins of the cold pairs located at the other end of the         series of cold pairs.

The fins of the cold pairs will be able to include, along one and/or the other of their longitudinal sides, a folded edge making it possible to thermally insulate the rest of the fin from a heat radiation from the facing hot pipes.

The device according to the invention also comprises, in particular, collecting boxes for the hot fluid into which the hot pipes open by their ends.

The cold pipes and the hot pipes will be able to be distributed in ranks extending in planes orthogonal to the direction Z and the cold pipes of one and same rank orthogonal to Z are linked in pairs by bent ducts so as to define a winding cold fluid circulation in said rank orthogonal to Z.

The ends of the winding pipes are linked at either end to a collecting box into which they open.

BRIEF DESRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood in light of the following description which is given purely as an indication and which is in no way intended to impose a limitation thereon, accompanied by the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, the cross section being made in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the fins,

FIG. 2 reprises FIG. 1 in a variant embodiment,

FIG. 3 illustrated a simplified version of the device of FIG. 1, the hot pipes and the cold pipes also being reversed,

FIG. 4 reprises FIG. 3 in a variant embodiment,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the invention relates to a thermoelectric device, comprising a first circuit 1, called hot circuit, through which a first fluid can flow, in particular exhaust gases from an engine, and a second circuit 2, called cold circuit, through which a second fluid can flow, in particular a heat transfer fluid of a cooling circuit, at a temperature lower than that of the first fluid.

The device also comprises elements 3, 3 p, 3 n, called thermoelectric elements, that make it possible to generate an electric current in the presence of a temperature gradient.

These are, for example, elements of substantially parallelepipedal form generating an electric current, by the Seebeck effect, when they are subjected to said gradient between two of their opposing faces 4 a, 4 b, called active faces. Such elements make it possible to create an electric current in a load connected between said active faces 4 a, 4 b. As is known to the person skilled in the art, such elements consists, for example, of bismuth and tellurium (Bi₂Te₃).

The thermoelectric elements are, for a first part, elements 3 p of a first type, called P, making it possible to establish an electrical potential difference in one direction, called positive, when they are subjected to a given temperature gradient, and, for the other part, elements 3 n of a second type, called N, making it possible to create an electrical potential difference in an opposite direction, called negative, when they are subjected to the same temperature gradient.

The device also comprises fins 5 f, 6 c, 6 f in a heat exchange relationship with said hot circuit and/or said cold circuit. A temperature gradient is thus ensured between said fins or between the fins in a heat exchange relationship with one of said circuits and the other circuit. Said fins 5 f, 6 c, 6 f are also in contact with the thermoelectric elements 3 p, 3 n on, in particular, their active face 4 a, 4 b. In other words, the thermoelectric elements are arranged either between two fins, or between one of the fins in a heat exchange relationship with one of the circuits and the other circuit. A current generation by the thermoelectric elements 3, 3 p, 3 n is thus assured.

According to the invention, it is therefore the fins 5 f, 6 c, 6 f which fulfill the function of establishing the thermal contact with the thermoelectric elements, at least for one of the circuits.

A fin should be understood to be an element having two large planar opposing surfaces 7 a, 7 b with a thickness very much less than its width and its length, making it possible to establish a surface contact, for example, between one of said large surfaces 7 a and the thermoelectric elements 3 p, 3 n on their opposing face of faces 4 a, 4 b to be subjected to a temperature gradient to generate an electric current. The fins 5 f, 6 c, 6 f are formed in a heat-conducting material, in particular a metallic material such as copper or aluminum.

At least some of said fins 5 f, 6 c, 6 f are associated in pairs, a compressible material 11 being provided between the fins of one and the same pair. It is thus possible to ensure an absorption of the mechanical stress generated by the expansion of the hot and/or cold circuits at the level of said material.

In each pair, the fins 5 f, 6 c, 6 f have, for example, identical dimensions and are arranged parallel to one another, one of the large faces 7 b of one of the fins 5 being arranged facing one of the large faces 7 b of the other of the fins of the pair.

In a first embodiment, the fins are coated with an electrically insulating material and are provided, on their face situated facing the thermoelectric elements, with one or more electrically conductive tracks, not represented, linking, in series and/or in parallel, the thermoconductive elements arranged on the fin.

According to another embodiment, the fins 5 f, 6 c, 6 f contribute to the conduction of the electricity produced by the thermoelectric elements 3, 3 p, 3 n.

Said compressible material 11 will be able to be electrically insulating, in particular in the embodiment described in the preceding paragraph.

Referring now more specifically to the embodiment of FIG. 2, it will be observed that the hot circuit comprises pipes 8, called hot pipes, for the circulation of the hot fluid. As for the cold circuit, it comprises pipes 9, called cold pipes, for the circulation of the cold fluid. The fins 5 f, called cold fins, are in a heat exchange relationship with the cold pipes 9. Also, the thermoelectric elements 3 p, 3 n are in a heat exchange relationship, on the one hand, with the hot pipes 8 and, on the other hand, with the cold fins 5 f. Said cold fins 5 f are grouped in pairs, said compressible material 11 being provided between the fins of one and the same pair.

Said hot pipes 8 are, for example, substantially flat pipes comprising two large parallel opposing faces 10 a, 10 b, on which are arranged the thermoelectric elements 3 p, 3 n by one of their active faces 4 a, 4 b. They are configured to allow for the circulation of exhaust gas and are, in particular, made of stainless steel. They are formed, for example, by profiling, welding and/or hard soldering. They will be able to have a plurality of channels for the passage of the first fluid, separated by partitions linking the opposing planar faces of the pipes.

The hot pipes 8 are coated on said large faces 10 a, 10 b with a layer electrically insulating material and are provided with electrically conductive tracks linking, in series and/or in parallel, all or part of the thermoconductive elements arranged on the hot pipes 8.

The cold fins 5 f have, for example, orifices 12 for the passage of the cold pipes 9. Said cold pipes are, for example, made of aluminum or of copper and have a round and/or oval section.

The contact between the pipes 9 and the cold fins 5 f is produced, for example, by an expansion of the material of the pipes as in the heat exchangers known as mechanical exchangers in the field of heat exchangers for motor vehicles. In the embodiments in which the conduction of electricity is produced by the fins, an electrical insulator is provided between the cold pipes 9 and the cold fins 5 f.

According to the embodiment illustrated, each planar face 10 a, 10 b of the hot pipes 8 has associated with it at least two so-called cold fins 5 f-p, 5 f-n, called neighboring cold fins, provided facing said planar face and electrically insulated from one another. The thermoelectric elements provided between a first 5 f-p of said neighboring fins, called P-type fin, and one of said planar faces, are of P-type and the thermoelectric elements provided between the other 5 f-n of said two fins, called N-type fin, and said planar face are of N type, so as to create a potential difference between said two neighboring fins 5 f-p, 5 f-n.

This subassembly consisting of a cold fin 5 f-p, of one or more P-type thermoelectric elements, of a face 10 a or 10 b of the hot pipe 8, of one or more N-type thermoelectric elements and of a cold fin 5 f-n defines a basic building block which will be able to be reproduced, the building blocks then being assembled electrically in parallel and/or in series in a different way to allow for the generation of a current exhibiting the desired intensity and/or potential difference.

It should be noted that, in this basic building block, as a variant, the cold fin 5 f-p related to the P-type thermoelectric elements and the cold fin 5 f-n related to the N-type thermoelectric elements will be able to consist of one and the same cold fin, bearing tracks for conducting the current to avoid any short-circuit between the part of the cold fin related to the P-type thermoelectric elements and the part of the cold fin related to the N-type thermoelectric elements.

There now follows a description of an exemplary embodiment of the arrangement of the thermoelectric elements 3 p, 3 n facing a given hot pipe 8 and of the cold fins 5 f provided to correspond, producing a first assembly of the basic building block described above.

P-Type fins 5 f-p, respectively N-type 5 f-n, are located, for example, on either side of one and the same hot pipe 9 and are electrically connected together in such a way, in particular, as to associate in parallel the thermoelectric elements located on either side of the hot pipe 9.

Said hot pipes are superposed in a first direction Y orthogonal to the fins 5 f in one or more ranks 16, said hot pipes 8 of a rank being arranged between two cold pipes 9. Said cold pipes 9 are oriented in the direction Y of stacking of the hot pipes 8.

The hot pipes 8 of each rank 16 are, for example, provided in the extension of one another from one rank 16 to the other. The thermoelectric elements of the hot pipes 8 located in the extension of one another are, for example, connected in series from one rank 16 to the other. In other words, the fins 5 f-p, 5 f-n located on either side of one and the same hot pipe 8, on one side of said pipe, and the fins 5 f-p, 5 f-n of the hot pipe 8 located in the extension of the first in the rank of neighboring hot pipes 8 are set to the same potential.

To refer once again to FIG. 1, according to the embodiment illustrated, said hot circuit comprises pipes 17, called hot pipes, for the circulation of the hot fluid, and said cold circuit comprises pipes 18, called cold pipes, for the circulation of the cold fluid. These are, in particular, round and/or oval pipes, for example made of stainless steel for the hot pipes 17 and of aluminum or of copper for the cold pipes 18.

For a first part, said fins 6 f, called cold fins, are in a heat exchange relationship with said cold pipes 18 and, for the other part, said fins 6 c, called hot fins, are in a heat exchange relationship with said hot pipes 17.

Said thermoelectric elements 3 are configured in a heat exchange relationship, on the one hand, with the cold fins 6 f and, on the other hand, with the hot fins 6 c.

As in the cold fins 5 f of the preceding embodiment, through-orifices 13, 14 are provided for the hot pipes 17, respectively cold pipes 18, in the hot fins 6 c, respectively cold fins 6 f. The pipe/fin contact is, in particular, of mechanical type, as described above. In the embodiments in which the conduction of electricity is produced by the fins, an electrical insulator is provided between the pipes 17, 18 and the fins 6 f, 6 c.

According to the embodiment illustrated, said cold pipes 18 and said hot pipes 17 extend in one and the same direction, called Y, and the hot fins and the cold fins are arranged parallel to one another in planes orthogonal to the direction Y, the fins extending in a first direction, called Z, and in a second direction, called X.

According to a first exemplary implementation, corresponding to FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the cold fins 6 f and the hot fins 6 c are grouped in pairs, respectively called cold pair 19/hot pair 20, and said compressible material 11 is provided between the fins 6 f, 6 c of one and the same pair for the cold pairs and the hot pairs.

The hot pairs and the cold pairs are alternated in the direction Y so that at least one so-called cold pair is situated on either side of one so-called hot pair.

At least two cold pairs are provided in the extension of one another in the direction X and electrically insulated from one another, forming a rank of cold fins in the direction X.

As in the preceding embodiment, there is once again here a pattern formed by an assembly of cold fins 6 f and of hot fins 6 c, separated or not by the compressible material 11, and of thermoelements 3 p, 3 n. Possible different constructions of this pattern and possible different ways of assembling the patterns will be described hereinbelow, in particular from an electrical point of view.

As detailed in FIG. 3, according to a first exemplary embodiment of said pattern, a first of the hot fins 6 c-u of said hot pair 20 is provided facing two cold fins 6 f-u 1, 6 f-u 2, of distinct cold pairs, called first and second upstream cold pairs, situated in the extension of one another, on one side of said hot pair 20, the other fin 6 c-d of the same hot pair 20 facing two cold fins 6 f-d 1, 6 f-d 2 of distinct cold pairs, called first and second downstream cold pairs, situated in the extension of one another, on the other side of said hot pair 20.

One or more P-type elements are provided between the first 6 c-u of the hot fins and the fin 6 f-u 1 of the first upstream cold pairs. One or more N-type elements are provided between said first of the hot fins 6 c-u and the cold fin 6 f-u 2 of the second upstream cold pair.

One or more P-type elements are provided between the other hot fin 6 c-d of said hot pair 20 and the cold fin 6 f-d 2 of the second downstream pair. One or more N-type elements are provided between said other hot fin 6 c-d of said hot pair 20 and the cold fin 6 f-d 1 of the first downstream pair. On either side of the hot pair 20, the upstream P-type elements face downstream N-type elements and the upstream N-type elements face downstream P-type elements.

Referring once again to FIG. 1 in which the hot pipes 17 and the cold pipes 18 are reversed compared to FIG. 3, it will be observed that the device according to the invention will be able to comprise, according to this exemplary implementation, a plurality of hot pairs 20 situated in the extension of one another in the direction X and electrically insulated from one another, so as to form a series of hot pairs in the direction X.

Said hot pairs are also distributed in ranks in which they follow one after the other in the direction Y.

In other words, said series and said ranks of hot pairs follow one another in the directions X and Y.

The cold pairs 19 are also distributed in ranks in which they follow one after the other in the direction Y and/or in series in the direction X. The hot pairs 20 and the cold pairs 19 are, for example, provided in staggered configuration.

The hot pipes 17 are provided, for example, between two ranks of cold pairs 19, in the direction Y, and/or the cold pipes 18 are provided between two ranks of hot pairs 20, in the direction Y.

The succession of hot 20 and/or cold 19 pairs in the direction Y will be able to end on either side, in particular, with a hot fin 6 c-t, provided alone, rather than in a pair.

The fins 6 c, 6 f extend longitudinally in the direction Z and transversally in the direction X and the hot pipes, respectively the cold pipes, are grouped in ranks 21, 22 extending in planes orthogonal to the direction X.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the device also comprises collecting boxes 23 for the hot fluid into which the hot pipes open by their ends.

The cold pipes and/or the hot pipes are also distributed in ranks extending in planes orthogonal to the direction Z. The cold pipes 18 of one and the same rank orthogonal to Z are linked in pairs by bent ducts 27 linked at their end in such a way as to define a winding circulation of the cold fluid in said rank orthogonal to Z.

The ends of the winding pipes are linked at either end to a collecting box 28 into which they open.

From an electrical point of view, connections between the fins are produced by the hot fins in FIG. 1. That said, is also possible to produce them by the cold fins and, in FIG. 3, it will be observed that the pattern described above is assembled as follows. The cold fins 6 f-u 2 of the second upstream pair of a pattern are connected to the cold fins 6 f-u 1 of the first upstream pair of the neighboring pattern, in the direction X. The same applies for the downstream cold fins 6 f-d 2, 6 f-d 1.

In addition, whether the device comprises one or more hot pairs:

-   -   the cold fin 6 f-u 2 of the second upstream cold pair and the         cold fin 6 f-d 2 of the second downstream cold pair are set to         the same potential, for the fins of the cold pairs located at a         first end of the series of cold pairs,     -   the cold fin 6 f-d 1 of the first downstream cold pair of one of         the hot pairs is set to the same potential as the cold fin 6 f-u         1 of said first upstream cold pair of the following hot pair in         the direction Y, said cold fins 6 f-d 2, 6 f-u 1 forming part of         the same pair of cold fins, for the fins of the cold pairs         located at the other end of the series of cold pairs.

At the terminals of the hot fins 6 c-t, as in FIG. 1, or cold fins, as in FIG. 3, located at the end of the succession of fins in the direction Y, there is thus a potential difference corresponding to the sum of the potential differences created at the terminals of the successive ranks of hot fins, respectively cold fins 6 f.

According to a particular exemplary embodiment, the fins of the cold pairs 6 f have, along one and/or the other of their longitudinal sides, a folded edge 29 making it possible to thermally insulate the rest of the fin from a heat radiation from the facing hot pipes 17.

According to another exemplary implementation, corresponding to a different pattern, illustrated in FIG. 4, only the cold fins 6 f are grouped in pairs, called cold pairs 30, and said compressible material 11 is provided between the fins of one and the same pair for the cold pairs.

In this exemplary implementation, the cold pairs 30 alternate with the hot fins in the direction Y in such a way that at least one so-called cold pair is situated on either side of one so-called hot fin 6 c.

It will possible to provide at least two cold pairs in the extension of one another in the direction X and electrically insulated from one another.

According to the pattern illustrated in FIG. 4, said hot fin 6 c is provided, for example, facing two cold fins 6 f-u 1, 6 f-u 2, of distinct cold pairs, called first and second upstream cold pairs, situated in the extension of one another, provided on one side of said hot fin, said hot fin 6 c also facing two cold fins 6 f-d 1, 6 f-d 2, of distinct cold pairs, called first and second downstream cold pairs, situated in the extension of one another, on the other side of said hot fin 6 c.

One or more P-type elements are provided between said hot fin 6 c and the cold fin 6 f-u 1 of the first upstream cold pair. One or more N-type elements are provided between said hot fin 6 c and the cold fin 6 f-u 2, of the second upstream cold pair.

One or more N-type elements are provided between the hot fin 6 c and the cold fin 6 f-d 2, of the second downstream cold pair. One or more P-type elements are provided between the hot fin 6 c and the cold fin 6 f-u 1 of the first downstream cold pair. The upstream and downstream P-type elements are situated facing one another on either side of the hot fin 6 c. The same applies for the N-type elements.

With this pattern, it will be possible to use the following electrical connections. The cold fin 6 f-u 2 of the second upstream cold pair and the cold fin of the second downstream cold pair 6 f-d 2 are electrically connected so as to be at the same potential. The same applies to the cold fin 6 f-u 1 of the first upstream cold pair and the cold fin 6 f-d 1 of the first downstream cold pair.

Also, it will be possible to assemble the patterns as follows. The fins 6 f-d 1, 6 f-u 1 of the first upstream and downstream cold pairs of one of said hot fins 6 c are set to the same potential as those associated with the following hot fins, in the direction Y. The cold fin of the first downstream cold pairs and the cold fin of the first upstream cold pairs associated with two successive hot fins 6 c, in the direction Y, form part of the same pair of cold fins. The same applies for the fins 6 f-d 2, 6 f-u 2 of the second upstream and downstream cold pairs.

Although this is not represented, it will be possible to provide a bundle using the pattern of FIG. 4, with a number of ranks of hot pipes 17, oriented in the direction Y, each time inserted between two cold pipes 18, these also oriented in the direction Y, the hot and cold fins being oriented orthogonally to the pipes. As for the electrical connections, said ranks will, for example, be mounted in series.

One advantage of the two implementations of FIGS. 3 and 4 is that they make it possible to avoid thermal bridges between the hot components and the cold components, by virtue of the production of subassemblies of hot pipes and of hot fins, and of subassemblies of cold pipes and of cold fins, separated, even though they are interleafed, the only contact between these subassemblies occurring via the thermoelectric elements. In other words, there is an alternation between the P-type and N-type thermoelectric elements in the direction X.

According to another different exemplary implementation, not represented, the hot pipes and the cold pipes are inserted between one another whereas the hot fins and the cold fins are inserted between one another, in planes at right angles to the pipes, the cold fins and/or the hot fins being distributed in pairs, the fins of one and the same pair being separated in accordance with the invention by said compressible material.

As in the exemplary implementations of FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, each cold fin, respectively hot fin, is provided with orifices for the passage of and thermal contact with the cold pipes, respectively hot pipes.

They are also provided with through-orifices without contact of with a thermally and electrically insulating contact with the hot pipes, respectively cold pipes.

Between a cold fin and a hot fin placed facing one another, there is provided thermoelectric elements of the same type. The fins of one and the same pair are set to same electrical potential. The cold fins are successively connected in series. As a variant, the thermoelectric elements situated between two neighboring hot and cold fins are of alternating type, the fins being provided with tracks for the circulation of current to avoid short-circuits between the thermoelectric elements.

In the above, the expressions “electrically connected” or “set to the same potential” should be understood to mean that the fins are connected to one another in the case where it is they which conduct the electricity, or that the tracks provided on the fins are connected together from one fin to the other when the fins are provided with conductive tracks, for example using connection terminals and conventional electrical conductors.

On this subject, it can be noted that producing an electrical connection by the cold fins rather than by the hot fins is advantageous because this does not entail using electrical components rated to withstand high temperatures.

One way of obtaining the device according to the invention comprises a step in which the thermoelectric elements are first assembled with the hot components, hot pipes 8 or hot fins 6 c and are then assembled with the cold fins 5 f, 6 f. The advantage of proceeding successively, in this order, is that it is possible to use relatively severe conditions of execution for the thermoelectric elements/hot components link and less severe conditions for the thermoelectric elements/cold fins link, without the latter risking being damaged by the execution of the thermoelectric elements/hot components link.

The fins are stacked and, in a subsequent step, the cold pipes 9, 18 are assembled in the cold fins 5 f, 6 f. The same applies for the hot pipes 17 in the hot fins 6 c in the embodiments with hot fins.

To ensure the pipes/fins link, as already described above, the pipes 9, 17, 18 in contact with the fins are then subjected, for example, to an expansion. This is, in particular, a radial expansion, obtained by the passage of an expansion olive inside the pipe, resulting in a crimping of the fins 5 f, 6 f, 6 c on the pipes.

A bundle is thus obtained in which the hot pipes 8, 17 and the cold pipes 9, 18 form a framework by virtue of the stress exerted by the fins, once the latter are crimped on the pipes, without the need to use clamping tie rods. The pipes are then linked to collecting boxes. The fins are electrically linked together according to the different schemes described above.

According to one embodiment, the compressible material is kept compressed. For this, it will be possible, for example, to keep it compressed before the expansion of the cold and/or hot pipes, by external means which will be able to be removed after expansion. By virtue of the stress exerted by the fins, said compressible material remains prestressed. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A thermoelectric device, comprising a first circuit, called hot circuit, through which a first fluid can flow, and a second circuit, called cold circuit, through which a second fluid can flow at a temperature lower than that of the first fluid, and elements, called thermoelectric elements, that can be used to generate an electric current in the presence of a temperature gradient, characterized in that it comprises fins in a heat exchange relationship with said hot circuit and/or said cold circuit, the thermoelectric elements being in contact at least with said fins, at least some of said fins being associated in pairs, a compressible material being provided between the fins of one and the same pair.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, in which said compressible material his electrically insulating.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, in which the thermoelectric elements are, for a first part, of a first type, called P, that makes it possible to establish an electrical potential difference in one direction, called positive direction, when they are subjected to a given temperature gradient, and, for the other part, of a second type, called N, that makes it possible to create an electrical potential difference in an opposite direction, called negative direction, when they are subjected to the same temperature gradient.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 3, in which: the hot circuit comprises pipes, called hot pipes, for the circulation of the hot fluid, said cold circuit comprises pipes, called cold pipes, for the circulation of the cold fluid, said fins, called cold fins, are in a heat exchange relationship with the cold pipes, the thermoelectric elements are in a heat exchange relationship, on the one hand, with the hot pipes and, on the other hand, with the cold fins, said cold fins are grouped in pairs, said compressible material being provided between the fins of one and the same pair.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 3, in which: said hot circuit comprises pipes, called hot pipes, for the circulation of the hot fluid, said cold circuit comprises pipes, called cold pipes, for the circulation of the cold fluid, for a first part, said fins, called cold fins, are in a heat exchange relationship with said cold pipes, for the other part, said fins, called hot fins, are in a heat exchange relationship with said hot pipes, said thermoelectric elements are provided in a heat exchange relationship, on the one hand, with the cold fins and, on the other hand, with the hot fins.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 5, in which said cold pipes and said hot pipes extend in one and the same direction, called Y, and the hot fins and the cold fins are arranged parallel to one another in planes, orthogonal to the direction Y, the fins extending in a first direction, called Z, and in a second direction, called X.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 6, in which only the cold fins are grouped in pairs, called cold pairs, and said compressible material is provided between the fins of one and the same pair for the cold pairs.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 7, in which the cold pairs alternate with the hot fins in the direction Y in such a way that at least one so-called cold pair is situated on either side of one so-called hot fin, said hot fin being provided facing a cold fin, of the cold pair or pairs, called upstream, situated on one side of said hot fin, said hot fin also facing a cold fin of the other cold pair or pairs, called downstream, situated on the other side of said hot fin.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 8, in which there are provided at least two cold pairs in the extension of one another in the direction X and electrically insulated from one another.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 9, in which: one or more P-type elements are provided between said hot fin and the cold fin, situated facing, of a first of the upstream cold pairs, called first upstream cold pair, one or more N-type elements are provided between said hot fin and the cold fin, situated facing, of another, called second upstream cold pair, of the upstream cold pairs, situated in the extension of said first upstream cold pair, one or more P-type elements are provided between the hot fin and the cold fin, situated facing, of a first of the downstream cold pairs, called first downstream cold pair, one or more N-type elements are provided between the hot fin and the cold fin, situated facing, of another, called second downstream cold pair, of the downstream cold pairs, situated in the extension of said first downstream cold pair, the P-type, respectively N-type, thermoelectric elements facing one another on either side of the hot fin.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 10, in which: the cold fin of the second upstream cold pair and the cold fin of the second downstream cold pair are set to the same potential, and the cold fin of the first upstream cold pair and the cold fin of the first downstream cold pair are set to the same potential.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 11, in which: the fins of the first upstream and downstream cold pairs of one of said hot fins are set to the same potential as those associated with the following hot fins, in the direction Y, the fins of the second upstream and downstream cold pairs of one of said hot fins are set to the same potential as those associated with the following hot fins in the direction Y.
 13. The device as claimed in claim 6, in which the cold fins and the hot fins are grouped in pairs, respectively called cold pair, hot pair, and said compressible material his provided between the fins of one and the same pair for the cold pairs and the hot pairs.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 13, in which the hot pairs and the cold pairs are alternated in the direction Y in such a way that at least one said cold pair his situated on either side of one said hot pair, a hot fin of said hot pair being provided facing a cold fin, of the cold pair or pairs, called upstream, situated on one side of said hot pair, the other fin of the same hot pair facing a cold fin of the other pair or pairs, called downstream, of said cold pairs situated on the other side of said hot pair.
 15. The device as claimed in claim 14, in which there are provided at least two cold pairs in the extension of one another in the direction X and electrically insulated from one another, forming a rank of cold fins in the direction X.
 16. The device as claimed in claim 15, in which: one or more P-type elements are provided between a first of the hot fins of a so-called hot pair and the cold fin, situated facing, of a first of the upstream cold pairs, called first upstream cold pair, one or more N-type elements are provided between said first of the hot fins and the cold fin, situated facing, of another, called second upstream cold pair, of the upstream cold pairs, situated in the extension of said first upstream cold pair, an N-type element are provided between the other hot fin of said hot pair and the cold fin , situated facing, of a first of the downstream cold pairs, called first downstream cold pair, a P-type element are provided between said other hot fin of said hot pair and the cold fin, situated facing, of another, called second downstream cold pair, of the downstream cold pairs, situated in the extension of said first downstream cold pair, the P-type thermoelectric elements facing N-type thermoelectric elements on either side of the hot pair.
 17. The device as claimed in claim 16, comprising a plurality of hot pairs in the extension of one another in the direction X and electrically insulated from one another, forming a series of hot pairs in the direction X.
 18. The device as claimed in claim 17, in which said hot pair are also distributed in ranks in which they follow one after the other in the direction Y.
 19. The device as claimed in claim 18, in which the cold pairs are also distributed in ranks in which they follow one after the other in the direction Y, the hot pairs and the cold pairs being provided in staggered configuration.
 20. The device as claimed in claim 19, in which the hot pipes, respectively the cold pipes, are grouped in ranks extending in planes orthogonal to the direction X.
 21. The devices ad claimed in claim 20, in which the hot pipes are provided between two ranks, in the direction Y, of cold pairs and/or the cold pipes are provided between two ranks, in the direction Y, of hot pairs.
 22. The device as claimed in claim 20, comprising collecting boxes for the hot fluid into which the hot pipes open by their ends.
 23. The device as claimed in claim 20, in which the cold pipes are also distributed in ranks extending in planes orthogonal to the direction Z and the cold pipes of one and the same rank orthogonal to Z are linked in pairs by bent ducts so as to define a winding cold fluid circulation in said rank orthogonal to Z.
 24. The device as claimed in claim 23, in which the ends of the winding pipes are linked at either end to a collecting box into which they open.
 25. The device as claimed in claim 19, in which: the cold fin of the second upstream cold pair and the cold fin of the second downstream cold pair are set to the same potential, for the fins of the cold pairs located at a first end of the series of cold pairs, the cold fin of the first downstream cold pair of one of the hot pairs is set to the same potential as the cold fin of said first upstream cold pair of the following hot pair in the direction Y, said cold fins forming part of the same pair of cold fins, for the fins of the cold pairs located at the other end of the series of cold pairs.
 26. The device as claimed in claim 20, in which the fins of the cold pairs include, along one and/or the other of their longitudinal sides, a folded edge making it possible to thermally insulate the rest of the fin from a heat radiation from the facing hot pipes. 